The Buffalo Bills will be without a significant part of their defense in Week 2.
Head coach Sean McDermott said Friday during his weekly appearance on WGR Sports Radio 550 that defensive tackle Ed Oliver will miss Sundayâs game against the New York Jets with a left ankle injury.
McDermott did not describe the exact nature of Oliverâs injury but later told reporters âthereâs a chanceâ he returns Week 3.
âI think just being in the early stages of the recovery piece, I think thereâs a chance,â McDermott said, via ESPNâs Alaina Getzenberg. âI donât know what chance that is at this point, but Iâll get more information in a few days here.â
Buffalo kicked off its season with a dramatic 41-40 win over the Baltimore Ravens.
How Did Ed Oliver Get Hurt?
McDermott revealed Oliver hurt his ankle Wednesday after he was stepped on at practice. After Oliver missed practice on Thursday, reporters spotted him wearing a walking boot and needing a scooter to move throughout the locker room.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for the seventh-year veteran, who played a significant role in Buffaloâs Week 1 win. Oliver accounted for six tackles and one sack, though his biggest play came with 3:10 left when he stripped Ravens running back Derrick Henry of the ball.
Quarterback Josh Allen scored on a 1-yard run on Buffaloâs next possession with 1:58 to go, helping the Bills complete the epic comeback.
âYeah, big game. Ed had a big game,â McDermott said. âYou could feel his play out there. Whether it was in the run game, the pass game, a couple good hits on the quarterback, a couple big plays in the run game behind the line of scrimmage, and then forcing the fumble. Like the entire team, he didnât quit. There was no quit in that team, our team.â
How Long Will Ed Oliver Be Out?
The Bills face a short turnaround in Week 3 with a Thursday night matchup against the Miami Dolphins, so it is possible Oliver still wonât be ready to return.
While McDermott has yet to provide a timetable for Oliverâs injury, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter said he likely faces a multi-week absence.
âOliverâs absence is likely to extend beyond just this week,â Schefter wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Itâs a critical blow to Buffaloâs defense, which already lacks depth behind Oliver and fellow starter DaQuan Jones.
T.J. Sanders and Deone Walker are both rookies, while Larry Ogunjobi, who signed a one-year, $6.7 million pact with Buffalo this offseason, is serving a six-game suspension for violating the leagueâs policy regarding performance-enhancing substances.
In 14 games last season, Oliver had 29 tackles, three sacks and three forced fumbles.
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